"Way to go team!" Keith exclaimed happily as he took the head seat at a large stone table just outside on the castle grounds. Everyone sat down as it was finally time to feast on a special Voltron celebration dinner.
Nanny and two maids dressed in light blue work dresses and white caps with matching aprons, set down large silver platters of sliced roasted turkey, a fluffy mountain of mashed potatoes, quiche, colorful assorted vegetables and homemade fruit pies. Plates and silverware clinked as the boys, Allura and Coran all with growling stomachs, filled their plates eagerly with the delicious food. As they ate with contentment, they discussed that morning's battle of the robeast. The day was bright and warm with just a soft breeze that didn't blow away the wonderful savory smells of all the good food.
"Is there anything Voltron can't do?" Hunk happily blurted as he raised his fork full of turkey and mashed potatoes before stuffing the food in his mouth.
"By now Lotor is probably crawling on his knees back to Daddy Zarkon and telling him he lost again!" Lance laughed along with the rest of the team including Allura who had taken a seat next to him. Her tantalizing floral scent mixed with the smells of his food and he couldn't help but blush.
"Won't he ever give up?" Pidge asked raising his hands with his palms facing upwards.
"No, he won't Pidge." Keith stated, his voice firm and serious after taking a sip of his iced tea. "Lotor is going to keep trying to defeat Voltron, take over Arus and make the princess his bride," he added as he looked over at Allura, her eyes solely on him. "But, he will never have her! I...we will make sure of that," he stated confidently raising his chin.
Lance, sitting next to Allura thought he heard her let out a faint sigh of longingness, her blue eyes now appearing dreamy. This reinforced all the more that Lance knew how Allura felt about Keith and Keith about Allura. He felt shameful about his own feelings of affection prodding and nagging at him causing him to lose his concentration and his appetite. Eating so little for breakfast like the rest of the team, he had been starving, but that was now no longer the case. Pushing aside the quiche, he then stabbed his fork into a slice of pie while trying to focus on eating and ignored the pangs of jealousy jabbing at his heart.
The conversation had grown quiet after Keith's declaration, but being that each Voltron member was ravenous, the food was eaten, only crumbs and morsels left on the platters and everyones plates. Hunk had helped himself to seconds and then thirds. It wasn't long before he let out a loud belch "Brrrp!"
"Disgusting! Don't you have any manners?" Nanny scorned him, her hands on her hips and her dark eyes glaring at him.
"Excuse me." Hunk sheepishly apologized, his brown eyes filled with innocence as he put his chubby hand to his mouth.
"At least he didn't pass gas. You never want to be around when he does that," Pidge told her.
"You ruffian! I don't want any of that behavior encouraged! You boys have been here long enough on Arus to act mature!" she snapped and Pidge looked around at his teammates shrugging his shoulders as though he didn't expect her outburst. There were plenty of smirks and suppressed laughs including one from Keith.
Nanny roughly began clearing plates, platters and other dishware from the table causing loud clatter. She always seemed to be in a bad mood especially after a Voltron battle, and even more so with Allura flying the blue lion. As hard as Nanny tried, she could never convince Allura to give up being part of the Voltron force. Lance narrowed his eyes while watching Nanny cleaning up the table and scraping plates. There was one time long ago he tripped her causing her to fall while she was carrying a large platter of food. This was one of those moments where he would love to do that again, but his self-restraint held him back which was a good thing.
Coran had been quiet throughout the meal, but had been listening to all of the conversations that took place at the table. Astute and thinking it the perfect time to calm everyone's frayed nerves from Nanny's crankiness, he finally spoke up as he set his napkin down, "Now that we are through with the meal, it's time for some after-dinner libations." He reached down beside his leg and pulled up a bottle of champagne. A delightful smile set on his face and the the whole team cheered and clapped as he then handed the bottle to Allura. "Here your Highness, you do the honors of opening it and sharing it with all of us here."
Allura thanked him and her eyes widened with perplexity for a moment as she had never opened a bottle of champagne, but as she took the bottle and held it in her lap, she slanted it outwards while twisting off the cap. Hunk was directly across from her and watching her movements, ducked down.
"Don't point it at me!" he yelped as Allura released the top and the cork went flying across the table.
"THUNK!" it sounded as it whacked Nanny in the behind. She had her back turned to all of them while still clearing dishes and was oblivious to the whole conversation. Straightening up with a jerk she bellowed out, "OW!" With lightning-quick reflexes, Lance had grabbed the bottle of champagne from Allura.
"You!" Nanny shrieked, her brows furrowed and her teeth gritting after she turned around and pointed at Lance.
"It was an accident!" he tried to explain as he stood up setting the bottle down on the table quickly. As he did so, the foamy champagne bubbled up and began to spill down the sides of the bottle.
"Out with you!" Nanny yelled rubbing her bottom with one hand and her other arm extending outwards pointing for Lance to go in its direction. "I've had enough of these mischievious antics!"
"Fine!" Lance hollered back and then picked up the champagne bottle and drank a large gulp straight out of the bottle before he stomped off heading away from the grounds. Faintly he was heard muttering insults, "crabby old bag.."
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Allura had excused herself after taking only a sip of champagne. It was unfair of Nanny to be so harsh on Lance, but she would have words with her later. Now, she set out to look for him and hopefully have a word with him about what had happened. Figuring he was headed to the woods beyond the smaller castle bridge, she strolled towards that way. It was only a short jont from the castle.
As soon as she had made her way across the bridge facing several large, mature trees, she looked around a bit. It was so peaceful in the clearing with the scent of lillies in the air, the sound of chirping birds and the leaves of trees seemed to be twinkling as the wind lightly blew. This could be the perfect place to relax and meditate, and she wondered why she hadn't thought of taking walks out here more often. Then she distinctly heard Lance's voice call out to her, "Do you think the old crabass is going to spank me?"
Allura's instincts guided her to look up and she spotted Lance with a large grin on his face while sitting on a branch of a tree high above her, very high. "Oh Gods! Get down Lance! You'll fall!" She was terrified of heights and the last thing she needed was one of her friends falling to their death.
He did a back flip off the branch and landed impressively on his own two feet on the ground. Allura thought he looked so handsome without his leather jacket, and only wearing a t-shirt, jeans and showing off his muscular arms. Still smiling even after composing himself, he asked her "Aren't you going to answer my question?"
"I, I.. I don't think she would do that to you. But, thank you Lance. Thank you for covering up for me with the champagne bottle." She managed a soft laugh as she walked towards him and lightly touched his shoulder.
"I owe you one. Afterall, I laughed at you when Nanny spanked you that time you were so defiant about getting back into the lion to practice."
Yes you did and I think now you've redeemed yourself. I won't forget that when Pidge and Keith laughed too. Keith did apologize." she said pacing about.
Lance feeling bold, blurted out, "I know how you feel about him."
"You do?" Allura asked suddenly feeling dizzy as her hands trembled slightly.
"Duh Princess!" Lance exclaimed throwing his head back laughing as he tried to cover up his awkward feelings and envy churning in his stomach. "You're so crazy for him and it's tearing you apart." he tried not to mock as he could see her gorgeous face beginning to frown.
"I do," she finally replied softly after a few moments of silence and then she sat down on a massive tree stump in front of her. "I don't know what to do. I can't tell if he likes me or not. He hardly says a word to me."
"Oh, he does. Believe me." He grew quiet for a moment and then took a deep breath as he got a wild idea in his head "Why don't you just go up to him and give him a big kiss right on his lips? Prove to him how you feel. Don't give him one of your cheeky kisses." Lance stated, his hazel eyes serious as he sat next to the princess and internally admired how beautiful she was with her long, heavenly, blonde locks flowing down her shoulders.
"I could never do that! That, that's bold! What's wrong with my kisses?" she stammered, her blue eyes enormous with shock as she suddenly felt defensive and stood up to tower over him.
"Princess, how much kissing experience have you had?" Lance asked another idea booming in his head, his heart beating wildly at what he wanted to do so badly, yet he still managed to sit calmly.
"Not much and not the most pleasant," she replied grimacing as she thought of the time one, supposed regal, eligible prince had given her a kiss at a castle ball. He had shoved his wet, sloppy tongue into her mouth even while he had horrid, bad breath leaving her to feel like she had the life sucked out of her.
Lance arose and walked towards Allura, very close that he was only inches from her. "Then let me show you what a real kiss is like." His hand gently caressed her soft cheek as she closed her eyes. Opening them, his looked deeply into hers as they dilated. A faint breeze lightly brushed back her golden locks in slow motion as Lance leaned forward taking her face in his hands. Before she could react, his lips pressed against hers as she felt tingling in her stomach and throughout the rest of her body, and then very warm.
"Not bad," he whispered pulling back, her face still in his hands. "How about one more?" He leaned forward again for a second time, his lips touching hers as they parted naturally and his tongue entered her mouth gently caressing hers. He held her closer and she slowly wrapped her arms around him while feeling the most wonderous sensations and tingles flowing through her limbs. Slowly, he pulled back and as she opened her eyes, she was at a loss for words.
"Uhh, oh" was all she could muster. He grinned knowing she was overwhelmed, but also in awe of the kiss, her breaths coming out in short gasps. He stared deeply into those intense blue eyes of hers noticing how dilated her pupils had become.
"Breathe Allura," he whispered his hands now resting gently on her shoulders . "What do you think?" he asked inquisitively.
"Wow," she finally gasped," That's the way a real kiss should be."
